Improvement in the mode of hanging scythes



J. & E; s. CLAPP.

Scythe.

- Patented July 16, 1838.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH OLAP]? AND ERASTUS S. OLAPP, OF MONTAGUE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MODE OF HANGING SCYTHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 839, dated July 16, E38.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JosEPH CLAPP and ERASTUS S. CLAPP, both of Montague, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful mode of hanging a scythe to the snath, and also a new and useful mode of fastening the tholes to the snath; and we do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description thereof.

First, in regard to the mode of hanging the scythe:

The nature of our invention consists in making an oval or square box of cast or wrought iron, A, Figure 1, of about oneinch in length, and of about three-quarters of an inch wide and about one-quarter of an inch thick, and having an open square, B, extending lengthwise through the center nearly to the ends of the box, and of about three-eighths of an inch wide.

In the open space or square B are to be placed several movable slides, 0, sufficient to fill the square space aforesaid, except a space for the claw of the scythe to be inserted. The slides should be made with small shoulders or dovetails on one end thereof, and the edges of the box next to the open space on the under side of the box are to be cornered, so as to re ceive the dovetail and leave a plane surface. The box, with the slides inserted, is to be sunk into the snath at any convenient distance above the heel-ring and fastened by pinning or otherwise, having that side of the box in which the shoulders of the slides move next to the wood. The slides, when the box is inserted into the snath, can be moved either way, to the right or left, and the claw of the scythe put in between the slides, or on either side of them, so as to make it hang out or in and give it the right or desired position with the snath; or instead of the slides aforesaid,

if it is desired, the box can be made with notches D, Fig. 2, in form of saw-teeth, on the open-space side which'is next to the heel of the snath, the claw of the scythe in which case would have to be filed to a corner to fit into the notches.

Second, in regard to the mode of fastening the tholes to the snath.

Our invention consists in making an iron ring with a stem sufficiently long to extend through the wood part of the thole, having a screw, E, on the end of it. The wood part of the thole is madein the usual form, having an iron nut fixed permanently into the upper end of it, leaving a plane surface on the end. On the end of the thole next to the snath there is to be a metallic collar fitted to the snath, and on which the wood part of the thole is to turn upon ashoulder,so that by placing the iron ring with the stem on the snath, and then the said collar upon the stem, and

then the wood part of the thole upon the stem,

the screw part entering the nut on the upper end, and by turning the wood part of the thole with the hand you make it fast to the snath by means of the screw and nut aforesaid.

By this mode of fastening the thole to the snath it can be done without the application of a wrench, and can be moved and fastened with the hand, to suit the convenience of users, with'the greatest ease.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The iron boxes aforesaid, made and constructed-and applied as aforesaid.

JOSEPH CLAPP. ERASTUS S. CLAPP. \Vitnesses:

\ ALMON BRAINARD, J OSEPH 0. SWAN. 

